A team of scientists led by Spanish astronomer Noemà Pinilla-Alonso has made a groundbreaking discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope, capturing an unprecedented mix of comet and asteroid known as Chiron. This centaur object orbits beyond Neptune and is unique in its ability to display both ices on its surface and gases in its wake.
Chiron’s discovery provides new insights into the Solar System’s past and present, offering a unique opportunity to study this hybrid object. The research reveals that Chiron has water ice, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide on its surface, while its trail is made of methane and carbon dioxide. This coexistence of molecules in multiple states adds another layer of interest to the study of comets and centaurs.
The study also sheds light on Chiron’s origins, which are believed to have originated from the region of trans-Neptunian objects. The object’s orbit is affected by the gravitational pull of Neptune and Jupiter, causing it to change trajectory and enter deeper into the Solar System. This allows scientists to study Chiron in unprecedented detail.
According to Pinilla-Alonso, the ices detected on Chiron could be primordial components inherited from the nebula before the formation of the Solar System. Others, such as acetylene, propane, ethane, and carbon oxides, could have formed on the surface due to reduction and oxidation processes.
The research also highlights the diversity detected in centaur populations, with varying origins and evolutionary stages. This suggests that centaurs are not a homogeneous population but rather a dynamic and transitional group of objects.
These findings are part of the DiSCo program on the surface of trans-Neptunian bodies, led by Pinilla-Alonso. The discovery of Chiron provides new insights into the Solar System’s mysteries, shedding light on the unique characteristics of this centaur object and its place in the solar system.
Source: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-12-19/following-in-the-footsteps-of-a-centaur-scientists-capture-chiron-a-never-before-seen-mix-of-comet-and-asteroid.html